Grijalva is one of two Hispanic congressmen in the state — the other is Pastor — and carries a great deal of influence among Arizona Hispanics, a vital demographic in the majority-minority 7th District. His endorsement is the first from the state’s five-member Democratic congressional delegation.

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“I worked with Ed Pastor for many years. He was the best partner I could have asked for in Phoenix, and I couldn’t think of a better candidate to replace him than Ruben Gallego,” said Grijalva, in a written statement. “He’ll be a force for Arizona in Congress and I can’t wait to work with him.”

The endorsement was first announced Tuesday night at a small fundraising event in downtown Phoenix, to the surprise of Gallego, who was in attendance. The official announcement was given to POLITICO on Wednesday.

“I didn’t know he was going to do it. He was thinking about it. Yesterday he put the stamp on it. Afterwards he got off the stage and said, ‘I got you on that, didn’t I?’” Gallego, a state representative, told POLITICO. “We have a long history together. Raul has known me, and my ability to fundraise, for a long time.”

Pastor announced last month that he would not seek reelection after 11 full terms in Congress, setting off a frenzy among potential candidates who had been eyeing the seat for years.

“Rep. Grijalva’s endorsement of Ruben Gallego is significant. Right now, Ruben, being the first one out, has done a very good job positioning himself as a front-runner,” said Mario Diaz, a Democratic consultant in the state. “I’ll temper that statement, however, by saying that not all of the candidates have declared themselves yet.”

Opponents like state Sen. Steve Gallardo and Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox carry strong name recognition in the district and pose significant challenges to Gallego. Two other strong candidates, state Rep. Catherine Miranda and Phoenix Councilman Daniel Valenzuela, are rumored to be announcing their candidacies later this week.

Although the filing deadline is not until May 28, the expensive Phoenix media market means donors will be at a premium. Endorsements like Grijalva’s give candidates the necessary early buzz to raise money in a district where campaigns could be largely funded by outside groups.

“There are only so many dollars in Arizona. The population [in District 7] does not have a history of contributing to members of Congress or candidates,” said Diaz. “This campaign might be primarily funded by individuals outside of the state. And this bodes well for Gallego.”